Recipe: Burmese Banana Wraps

These little coconut and banana treats are easy to make and super tasty. The banana leaf functions as natural packaging, which makes the wraps perfect to bring along as a snack for farmers working in the field, or for your lunch box, though I prefer enjoying the wraps, while they are still hot, straight from the steamer. Serve them as a sweet snack after a meal, along with a cup of tea.

Before the banana leaves are ready to use, you need to wash them and remove any larger stems. If you are using banana leaves straight from the palm tree, you will also need to soften the leaves. This is done by passing the leaves over a gas burner or a gas range, so be careful not to burn your fingers. Another option is to heat the banana leaves in the oven for 5-10 minutes at 200°F. The heat softens the leaves and give them a bright green color, and now they are ready for use.

About Borderline Collective in Mae Sot, Thailand

Borderline Collective is located in Mae Sot, which is about the closest you get to Myanmar, while still being on the Thai side of the border. The shop/restaurant/art gallery/creative space was started with the purpose of supporting migrant and refugee women from Myanmar, by helping the women sell their handmade products. The women are organized in smaller, autonomous, collectives based in the small villages along the border, and Borderline Collective provides a space for the women to showcase their products, and thus reach a larger customer base.

Read more about Borderline Collective >>

Recipe: Burmese Banana Wraps

Recipe by Chef Nge-Nge Course: Baking, DessertCuisine: Myanmar

Servings

12

pieces

These little coconut and banana treats are easy to make and super tasty. The banana leaf functions as natural packaging, which makes the wraps perfect to bring along as a snack for farmers working in the field, or for your lunch box, though I prefer enjoying the wraps, while they are still hot, straight from the steamer. Serve them as a sweet snack after a meal, along with a cup of tea.

Ingredients

• 1½ 1½ banana

• 1 cup 1 (2.5dL) rice flour

• 6 6 banana leaves

• 2 tablespoons 2 sugar

• 1 1 coconut

• A pinch of salt

• A pinch of baking soda

Directions

• Grate the coconut and set it aside
• Mix banana, rice flour, sugar and salt with your hands until it turns into a uniform liquid mass.
• Wrap the mixture in the banana leaf and fold it.
• Steam the banana wraps in a steamer for 15 minutes.
• To see if the wraps are cooked, gently stick a knife through the banana leaf. If the mixture does not leak out, the wraps are ready. It is better to over-steam a bit rather than not steaming enough.
• Eat the wraps with fresh, sliced coconut.

Recipe Video